Mission Viejo, CA - After losing to Mt SAC on Friday, the Chargers knew that they had little option. Win and continue their quest to State or lose and go home. They chose the ladder. In the first elimination game, down 4-2 going into the bottom of 9th inning, Robert Chavarria walked off a walk RBI, walking home Tyler Schultz for a 5-4 win. In the night cap, the Chargers were down 2-0 early, but came back and eliminated conference foe Saddleback 6-4 to survive another day.
Elimination early game: Cypress 5 - Canyons 4
The Chargers were on the brink of elimination, being held to three hits after six complete innings and down 3-0 to Canyons. In the bottom of the 7th, with Blake Davey at first and Parker Starr at second, Sam Tolleson drove home the first run on a single to cut th deficit to 3-1. In the bottom of the seventh, after loading the bases with no out, Chavarria grounded into a double play but scored Schultz to cut Canyons' lead to 3-2. Canyons scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth to lead 4-2.
Elimination late game: Cypress 6 - Saddleback 4
After falling behind 2-0 to Saddleback after one inning, the Chargers responded with four runs by Chavarria, Tolleson, Davey and Dylan Moore in the bottom of the second inning to lead 4-2. Moore scored on a single by Schultz in the bottom of the fifth to lead 5-2. Tolleson scored in the bottom of the sixth on a squeeze bunt by Schultz to increase the lead to 6-2. The Gauchos fought back in the top of the seventh when Slate Miller and Kyle Ferret were driven home by Josh Fuentes to cut the Charger lead to 6-4. Bryson Kauhaahaa allowed no more hit in the final two innings to eliminate the Gauchos.
Cypress vs Mt SAC
The Chargers put themselves in a position to advance to State. In order to do so, they must beat Mt SAC twice on Sunday. The Chargers used up their top three starters, Stephen Kane, Ryan Hartman and Kauhaahaa. It appears that it will be Nick Rogowski for the Chargers going against the Mounties third starter, Cameron Pongs who started 13 games with a record of 6-3 and a 3.62 ERA. If the Chargers win the first game, they will face John Werner (2-2, 3.63) or Danny Diaz (3-0, 2.78.)
